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Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Get one of these spiders, called the Golden Orb Weaver. Joel Shakespeare, head spider keeper at the Australian Reptile Park, said this is a well known but rare occassion. Someone just happened to catch it on camera. Nonetheless, get one of these, and you may notice a change in the number of birds that fly through your yard.

The startling images were reportedly taken in Atheron, close to Queensland's tropical north.

"Normally they prey on large insects… it's unusual to see one eating a bird."

Mr Shakepeare said he had seen Golden Orb Weaver spiders as big as a human hand but the northern species in tropical areas were known to grow larger.

Queensland Museum identified the bird as a native finch called the Chestnut-breasted Mannikin.